BAC KAN (VNS)— The title of national special relic site was awarded to Ba Be Lake in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan at a ceremony on December 29.

The lake covers an area of around 500ha and is located in the 10,000ha Ba Be National Park. It has been listed among 20 freshwater lakes in the world in need of protection.

Adressing the event, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said the title would help the province make the most of its natural heritage to promote socio-economic cultural and tourism development. Its new status not only brought pride, but also challenges to the locality to maintain and promote the lake's value that would encourage socio-economic and tourism development, Hung said.

At the event, a special arts programme was performed to showcase the cultural identities of the local mountainous ethnic groups.-VNS